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was there: |
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The music press were in a
frenzy about the new alternative sounds emanating
from the suburbs of Manchester. I had just heard the
John Peel session by Joy Division. New Dawn Fades
was my catalyst. I played it again and again until I
realised I had to see this band. Fate or just plain
good luck, I don't know which but it was announced
that my new favourite band were to play the Imperial
Hotel, Blackpool. A mere 50 yards from my
front door step. I had often taken my tape recorder
to gigs. A simple Philips affair with auto levels
and a hand held mike. I knew I had to record this
gig. This was something special.
In the low roofed hall with space for 300 people at
a push, I took a position left of centre stage. A
local band The Final Solution were getting
ready to start. I knew the keyboard player and
wondered if the thin ties and hitler youth style
haircuts and clothing were a misinterpretation of
the whole scene. There was a Nazi undertone however
misguided, and 'The Final Solution' fell for it
hook, line and sinker. To be honest I enjoyed their
set. Twiddly keyboards and serious brooding, but it
suited the atmosphere and passed the time.
Next came OMD. A tape machine that they had
called 'Eric' or some such nonsense. All the rythyms
were on it and andy mclusky or whatever his name
was, played bass and sung some drivel over the top
about messages from Stanlow oil refinery. |
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Joy Division
appeared and even during the long moody intro to Dead
Souls I knew that this was to be something
special. There was something about Joy Division that
held your concentration. Maybe the fact that Ian
Curtis was so intense and so obviously 100% genuine.
The Imperial was the perfect place for Joy Division
to play. A small low roofed function suite behind
the austere grandeur of the famous seafront hotel.
You got in through a fire exit on Dickson Road. The
place hasn't changed at all from the outside to this
day. A dingy dark corridor with a door 10 yards down
on the right which led into the main room with a
stage to the immediate right and the rest of the
room was dancefloor. On the opposite side to this
entrance door was another door leading to the bar
area. The dressing rooms were on the left as you
walked in off the street. It was the only way in and
so if you lingered you saw the band at close
quarters.
Shadowplay, Atrocity Exhibition all became anthems
for me that night. Yes they were dark and he meant
it. This was performance art on a scale you will
only see once in a blue moon. Dave McCullough was
pilloried for the 'He died for you' article, but if
you were here on this night you could maybe
understand some of that article.
My tape is far from perfect, but a precious part of
my musical heritage |
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Schubert
was there:
" ... I remember this gig. it was the first time my
parents let me stay out till late. I can remember
watching Final solution who I thought were shite,
The glass Torpedoes who at the time I thought were
really good and I can remember being bored to the
back teeth with OMD, I was at the back of the room,
I'm 15, skint and laid on a grubby carpeted floor at
the back of the room thinking I am unbelievably
bored. Then I heard this band start playing, a deep
throbbing bass which totally captivated my
imagination and brought me back into a world filled
with meaning.
Like an extra from the film "The children of the
damned" with my bleach blonde hair, I got up and
made my way to the front thinking "what a fuckin'
band, who are they", of course it was Joy Division,
I had heard of them but had never checked them out,
so what I was hearing was without hype and totally
cold.
I made my way to the front centre stage left, A bass
player with a low slung guitar meaning every note
was dancing away, a guitarist with his head down and
this singer in front of me moving about like I'd
never seen before. I didn't know it at the time but
this was going to be a defining moment in my life
(and I have been a miserable bastard ever since) it
wasn't the catalyst that had got me into music, that
was punk rock but it was the burning light of
creativity that inspires me and many others even to
this day". |
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| Martin from North East Punk shares his memories: |
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I read in one of the music papers that Joy
Division were to appear at a charity gig in
Blackpool the very week that I was to go there on
holiday with my parents. I couldn't believe my luck!
I'd seen Warsaw in
my home town of Newcastle in 1977 and had become a
big Joy Division fan through hearing their sessions
on the John Peel Show and on the Short Circuit 10".
When we arrived at the hotel in Blackpool, I
listened to their Peel sessions repeatedly on my
portable cassette-player in my room and re-read the
review of Unknown Pleasures in one the music papers
('Melody Maker' I think), which I'd taken with me,
over and over again. The gig was on a Friday, which
couldn't come soon enough. It was bizarre taking the
tram to the gig surrounded by holidaymakers with
their 'kiss me quick' hats and candy floss. At that
time I was still a punk though was becoming
disillusioned with it and preferred post-Punk bands
such as Joy Division (my favourites), The Pop Group,
Cabaret Voltaire, etc.
The audience at the gig was a mix of 'typical'
punks, 'straights' and 'poseurs.' I was speaking to
a member of Section 25 (who I didn't know at that
time, he introduced himself and said he helped
organize the gig and was a member of one of the
support bands) when in walked Joy Division. I spoke
to Ian briefly before their set. I asked him when
Unknown Pleasures would be available in the shops
back home in Newcastle. He said he didn't know but
he asked Rob, their manager, who told me, 'Very
soon.' I'd been listening to their Peel sessions
repeatedly and couldn't wait to get the LP! |
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I can't remember the
order the bands appeared but I think The Final
Solution were first on. I remember them doing a
cover of Pere Ubu's Final Solution but they changed
the chorus from 'Don't need a drug' to 'Don't need a
drummer' (they had a drum-machine!) The Glass
Torpedoes were sort of a Pop-Punk band, a Sid
Vicious lookalike at the front spat at the singer
throughout their set. I was quite familiar with OMD
as I'd heard their 'Electricity' 7" on the Peel
show. They were quite unusual for the time in that
they were a duo and the third 'member' was a
reel-to-reel tape-machine called Winston(!)
I remember Joy Division doing a brief soundcheck and
that a tape of The Fall's Live At The Witch Trials
was playing ('I still believe in the R 'n' R
dream...') as they took the stage. I was right at
the front and was, like I guess everybody there,
transfixed - especially on Ian whose stage presence
was a lot more confident and awe-inspiring than when
I'd seen Warsaw back in '77. I remember them doing
Transmission and thought the chorus was, 'Stan Stan
Stan Stan Stan Do The Radio' (doh!)
Local Punk band Zyclon B were on the bill but they
must have pulled out for whatever reason. I do,
however, remember The Final Solution, Glass
Torpedoes and OMD, though unfortunately had to leave
before Section 25 (who performed last) as I had to
get back to the hotel - I was only 17 so
(reluctantly) had to do as I was told! I recently
heard a recording of JD's set (which is available on
various bootleg LPs and CDs) which brought back fond
memories of the gig. |
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'Blackpool
Rox' fanzine #3 included a review of the gig
(for some reason, OMD aren't mentioned)
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Joy
Division / Section 25 / OMD / Glass Torpedoes /
Final Solution
First on were Final Solution, their music can be
compared to many, they use a drum machine… for
effect, synth… for effect. Dress all in black… for
effect. They are on the same lines as Adam And The
Ants / Bowie / Ultravox / Pere Ubu / Kraftwerk /
Tubeway Army - they play sparse, bleak, atmospheric
wallpaper music. People stood and watched, limited
reaction. They do a great version of ‘Light My Fire’
bringing the sixties forward with an electric shock,
into the 80s, cold unemotional voc to what’s
supposed to be a sexy, emotional love song – someone
had to do it. The drum machine fits in well, not in
line with general opinion. I thought Charlesworth
was very good – if limited in know how to play his
instrument. Final Sol. songs stop abruptly and begin
suddenly, songs I liked - Happy Families (see
TV Personalities for better song of same name.) I
liked Zyclon B (the song) minus the pointed rather
demented lyrics and vocals. So Final Solution left
to a mixed reception, quite an amusing performance.
Their attitude is… well you can take it or leave it,
frankly I think I’ll leave it.
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Glass Torpedoes. Now we
have a very different kettle of fish. I found them
enjoyable, light, nice and easy however on the other
claw unconvincing and a bit too sweet. The lead
singer is the centre of attraction, like a mixture
between Debbie Harry and Gaye Advert, could be next
Record mirror pinup of the week. She reminds me of
wicked school-girls behind the bike sheds – I fell
in love with her immediately so did everyone else
I’m afraid.
G.Torpedoes make you dance, they are very accessible
– Throwaway pop theirs nothing deep and contrived
about them, just plain danceable music.
Their best song is No Thrills, New York, the band
are proficient and tight and still only very young,
look out Pretenders, here we are 1979 mods are back
and 60s pop still rules – good things are timeless
and go round in circles.
I must tip my titfor to Sec 25 at this point and
thank them for achieving such a varied bill of all
above average bands. They are doing something
constructive, and for donating the profits to such a
worthy cause. I have nothing but total respect for
their gesture, carry on Sec 25.
Now to Joy Division. This band are so hot they
almost burn a hole through the stage. Their music is
firmly set in the future. They play wild, fast
kinetic music quite unlike anything I’ve heard –
original get the buzz, the music shone and gleamed…
it excited, uncontained in any boundaries the way
true r and r music should be played.
Grabs your attention and holds it throughout
intensified and gripping. He dances like an obsessed
robot ‘Dance Dance Dance to the radio’. His hands
are everywhere, jerky, spasmodic movements. The
doomy synth chops in and out, the guitars are loud
and ring long and eerie in my ears after the gig.
The drums dominate and promote movement - the band
are so tight, their sound is well jointed and ahmmm
professional. Joy Division music draws you in and
submerges you into it’s deep thoughtful and clear
sound. The singer gets up leaves through the door
where the people came inside. Outside does this have
any significance?
Good gig.
Ian Metcalfe
P.S. Section 25 were the most interesting band of
the night. Although most punks had gone home since
their mumsies want to go bed early. They were on
rather late – about 12 to 1 o’clock and I got dun
when I got home. The music was basically samey, but
well put over. They’ve got a half weird guitarist
(Paul) a skin drummer and a good lead vox / bass.
The music needed a little variation. The drumming
was good and solid and the bass wasn’t all that loud
giving preference to the lead guitar. |
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